Pastor Hagee, Sr. preached on "God is Love". It is one of those sermons that really confuses my heart and mind.
Of course, I KNOW God IS love. He doesn't pick and choose who He loves and who He likes just a little and who He hates. God IS love, so He loves everyone.
Can he hate?
Oh, YES! Definitely!
He HATES sin. He cannot allow it in His kingdom. There HAD to be a sacrifice for it, or none of us would ever be able to enter God's presence. Hence, Jesus. Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice for us all. It is the saddest thing in the whole universe that a man or a woman would not understand and accept that truth.
The thing I don't understand is ME. I have always thought that I -- as a Christian -- should stay away from people who knowingly and willingly sin. ESPECIALLY, those that call themselves "Christians". I'm real good at pointing out everyone's sins too. Only problem is, people always got the idea that I was saying I was perfect, and they were horrible sinners. I did not mean it that way at all.
Can someone sin just a little bit? Can someone else sin a big bit? Can someone else commit the most horrible sin that you could never be in their presence again? Can someone sin so horrendously that God, Himself, rejects them and won't love them anymore?
And WHERE does one draw the line as to which sinner they will associate with and which one they won't???? Obviously, NONE of us is ever perfect and without sin.
The way I explained it to my children and grandchildren -- not that they ever listened -- was that YOU WILL BE LIKE THE PEOPLE YOU ASSOCIATE WITH. Do NOT date someone who is not qualified to be a self-disciplined, loving, honorable, Christian Father or Mother, because you will marry someone you date! It is a whole lot easier for the sinner to pull DOWN the Christian than for a Christian to pull UP the sinner. I have seen it too -- so many, many times. It breaks your heart.
To me there seems to be DEGREES of sin. For instance: Things I struggle with personally are talking about other people (gossip), driving a bit over the speed limit, exaggerating a point or an event, or over-reacting to something to the point I hurt someone's feelings (usually an employee).
A horrible sin that other people commit in MY OPINION would be abortion; marriage between two men or two women; murder; rape; selling drugs; satan worship; lying; adultery; etc. How many people do I know personally that allow their own children to live in sin right in their own homes? A lot!
According to all the sermons I have heard, there is no degree of sin to God. Sin is sin. I have a hard time sorting that out in my mind. But God -- because of Jesus -- forgives ALL sin, no matter how awful or how seemingly UNforgivable. Hagee says God knew everything you were going to do before you ever did it, and he loved you anyway.
I can't start to understand it all, but I understand this much. God loves you and God loves me, and because of Jesus, we will all be right there in the same City where He lives someday, and we can ASK HIM OURSELVES to clear up all the confusion in our minds. I really have a feeling that we will just KNOW. How else could all of us who can't get along here on Earth, suddenly live in perfect peace when we get there? Our minds will HAVE to be transformed.
The thing is, there are people in my family that I don't associate with because of their life style choices. One is a constant (what is the word?) liar. One is a serious drug user and distributor. They use filthy language and can be violent. Not only do I not want to be in their life, they FOR SURE don't want to be in mine. I love them though. I seriously love them. I pray for them. And after a sermon like today's, I wonder if I shouldn't be in their life ANYWAY just so they know someone loves them. It is very confusing to me.
Hopefully, you can find today's sermon in there SOMEwhere!
ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND, now!
I have a little video for you of the day Jackie met Josie. It was just this past Monday. We are head-over-heels in love with the little fluff ball, and so is Jackie.
Jackie wasn't wanting to share Josie with any of us. She seemed to know right away that this was HER gift and not ours, lol.
Hugs, Joy
Joy, those two pups are just adorable. It is just so sweet to see them together.
ReplyDeleteHello Joy,
ReplyDeleteYou had very good questions. I'll try to answers those. In 1John 5:13-17, I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does lead to death.
So there are degrees of sin.
And as where to draw the line as to which sinner they will associate with? LOL . Joy we are to love all but that doesn't mean we have to like them.
Thank you SO MUCH! What is your name? I'm going to go read that chapter right now.
DeleteHugs, Joy
Charlotte
DeleteJerry isn't looking too excited! I've been listening to Pastor Duane's series on righteousness. It is really, really good and I think will help with what you're struggling with right now. If you can't find it online, I've got the cd's. I'm ready for you to come back!
ReplyDeleteJerry and Jackie fight over whose puppy it is, lol.
ReplyDeleteI would love those CD's. I have so many of Duane's old style tapes. I need to get the new kind.
Hugs, Joy